An iterative usability evaluation procedure for interactive online courses

The Internet and World Wide Web (W3) have afforded distance learners simple links to access information. Faculty can easily bring their courses online to students by building menu systems using hypertext markup language (HTML). Since online course design must include attention to effective user interface design, usability evaluation becomes a major component of the design process. This article focuses on the importance of providing iterative usability evaluation of online courses and strategies to ensure effective online course interface presentation. Some of the goals for evaluating effective online course presentation are: ease of use, aesthetic appeal, clear feedback, error handling, controls for parallel and serial group communication, and transparency of the user interface. In addition, a procedure is described for ensuring iterative usability evaluation throughout the online course lifecycle that will help instructors routinely inspect and improve the interfaces of their online courses